Spring shade-roller.



W. M. DECKER.

SPRING SHADE ROLLER.

APPLICATION 1 11.31) JAN. 6. 1909.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. M. DEGKER.-

SPRING SHADE ROLLER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6. 1909.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ms uomws PETERS 00., WASHINGTGN, n. c.

WILLIAM MORE DECKER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SPRING SHADE-ROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

Application filed January 6, 1909. Serial No. 470,987.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Moan DnoKnn, a citizen of the United States,re siding at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Shade-Rollers;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same,

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in springrollers for shades, and has for its objects to provide a roller whichshall be light of weight, economical of construction, readily adjustedto window frames of varying width and hav ing means for ready andaccurate attachment of shades.

My invention also has for its object to provide novel means forcontrolling the spring action of the roller and looking it in positionwhen desired.

l/Vith these ends in view my invention consists in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully describedand claimed.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertainsmay make and use the same, I will proceed to describe the constructionand operation of the same,

referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roller in position with the shadeattached; Fig. 2, a front view of the same; Fig. 3, a detail view of oneof the brackets for supporting the roller in position; Fig. 4, an endview of the same bracket; F ig. 5, a back view of the same; Fig. 6, adetail view partly in section of the other b 'acket and showing theroller rod in position therein. F 7 is a horizontal section partly inelevation of the roller. Fi 8 is an enlarged section of the left-handend of the roller, as shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a detail perspectiveview on enlarged scale of the parts surrounding the spring rod. Fig. 10is a side sectional view of the cap for the cup shaped ball receiver.Fig. 11 is a cross-section through the roller surrounding the springrod; and Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view illustrative of thedevices for attaching the shade to the roller.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

1, 1, are two tubular sections which are preferably composed of strawboard or other suitably strong paper wound upon itself to secure properstrength and rigidity, or of sheet metal secured in any suitable manner,and with a strip of textile material 2, secured thereon. Strengtheningring-shaped ribs 3, may be located within the tubular sections ifdesired. The ends of the tubular sections 1, are reinforced by flangedmetal rings 4, which constitute a neat finish of the ends, and preservethe cylindrical form of the sections.

5, is a cylinder of wood adapted to be received within the adjacent endsof the two tubular sections 1, 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, andto beadjustably secured therein by tacks 6, or in any other suitable manner.

Within the outer end of one of the tubular sections, 1 is secured ablock 7, within which is axially secured trunnion 8. Within the outerend of the other tubular section is secured a cup-shaped sheet metalball receiver 9, the outer end of which is flanged over the edge toconstitute a finish thereto, as clearly shown. The inner end of thisball receiver is formed as most clearly shown at Fig. 8, with aplurality of antifriction ball recesses, 10, surrounded by a taperedwall 11, and antifriction balls, 12, are located within the ballrecesses, 10.

12 is a sheet metal cap or ball confining plate provided with ballrecesses 13, similar to the recesses 10, but not so deep, and withconnecting grooves or tracks 14, and with a surrounding wall 15, havingits edge tapered for frictional contact with the tapered wall of thecup-shaped ball receiver 9, as clearly shown at Fig. 8. This sheet metalcap is formed with a tubular neck or shank 16, through which the springrod 17, passes, and which rod also passes through a central opening inthe cup-shaped ball-receiver 9, as clearly shown. The shank 16, isprovided with a radial stud or spline 18, adapted to enter alongitudinal slot 19, in a tubular sleeve 20, which surrounds the springrod 17. This tubular sleeve 20, is reduced or stepped at 21, to producea shoulder between which and the end of the shank 16, of the cap 12 islocated a spiral spring 22, which acts to hold the cap in contact withthe balls 12. The outer extremity of the reduced end of the sleeve 20,is formed with a radial slot- 24, through which the vertically disposedend 23, of the spring rod 17, passes, and which while permitting aslight reciprocating movement of the sleeve 20, prevents any rotativemovement of the same.

()ne end of the spring rod is located in a recess in the inner end ofthe wooden cylinder 5, and the spring 25, for actuating the roller isconnected at one end to the wooden cylinder and atthe opposite end tothe spring rod in the usual manner and as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The shade is secured to the fabric 2, by means of sheet metal hooks 26*,secured to the shade, and eyelets 27, in the fabric as shown at Fig. 12,or in any other desired manner.

28, is the right-hand bracket designed to receive and support thetrunnion S, of the roller, and is constructed of sheet metal as clearlyshown in Figs. 3, 1 and 5, folded upon itself and secured againstmovement with respect to itself and to the window frame, by barbs 29 and30, but if additional security should be desired ordinarv screws ornails 31, may also be used. The left hand bracket 32, is folded uponitself in a simila manner, and held in position by similar barbs, butthe outer or supporting extremity in which the opposite end of thespring rod 17, is held, is formed as shown at Fig. 6, open at the top toreceive the horizontal portion of the end of the spring rod, and with avertical opening for the passage of the returned or right-angle end :3,of the same, whereby said rod is held against r0- tation.

The detail construction of the brackets of sheet metal will not beclaimed herein, as I contemplate making them the subject-matter ofanother application for Letters Patent.

Having described the construction and arrangement of the several partsof my improved spring shade roller, 1 will now explain the operation ofthe same and as shown in Fig. 7.

W'hen the shade has been upon. the roller and the latter has beenlocated upon the brackets, and it is desired to lower the shade, thesame is pulled down, which action causes the roller to rotate upon thespring rod 17, and in doing so the anti-friction balls 12, force thesheet metal cap 12 outward againstthe spring 22, permitting the balls toremain and rotate freely within their recesses in the cup-plate whilethe bircular grooves 1a in the cap 12 traverse upon said balls in anobvious manner, until the rotation of the roller is retarded; whereuponthe spring 22, will press the cap plate toward the cup-shaped plate, andas the inclined edge of the cap plate gradually and progressively comesinto frictional contact with the wall 11, of the cup-shaped plate, itwill act as a brake and the balls 12, will be brought to a state of restand constitute a lock when the ball recesses in the two plates are inline.

duly wound To release the look, a sudden pull downward upon the shadewill cause the balls to force the cap plate 12 outward against thepressure of the actuating spring 22, thus permitting the roller and thecup-shaped plate to rotate above explained.

The end. 23, of the spring rod 17, instead of being turned down at aright angle as shown to enter a vertical slot or opening in thesupporting bracket, may be provided with a peg or pin passing throughthe rod in an obvious manner, as a 81 bstitute.

\Vhile I contemplate ma g the tubular sections 1, 1, of straw-board orpaper, with the longitudinal edges overlapped and secured in anysuitable manner to embrace the fabric 2, it will be appreciated thatsuch specific structure is not material, and any suitable material andstructure thereof may be employed to which the shade is'to be attached.One end of the spring rod 17, is formed or provided with a spherical orrounded end 33, which is seated in a suitable ocket in the end of thewooden cylinder as clearly shown, in order that the same may freelyrotate around said rod, and the opposite end of the rod is provided witha similar end piece (see Fig. 7 and S), which is a separate piecesecured in position on the rod 17, and the rod as clearly shownconstitute guard which prevents any undue endwise movement of the rod17, by its contact under such circumstances with the eup shaped plate 9.

he end of the wooden cylinder 5, to which one end of the spring 25, issecured, is provided with a sheet metal cap 35 (see Fig. '7) whichserves to securely hold the end of the spring 25. i

It will of course be understood that the length of the cup-shaped plate,or the distance it may enter the end of the tubular section 1, and infact the proportions of the several parts may be varied without depart--ing from the spirit of my invention, and that the limit of thelongitudinal adjustment of the sections 1, 1, upon the wooden cylinder5, will necessarily be within reasonable limits.

From the description herein given it will be seen that the rotation ofthe roller is upon ball bearings and consequently there will be aminimum degree of frictional wear, and that the several parts whichcooperate to control the rotation of the roller are simple andeconomical of construction and may be readily made by suitable dies fromsheet steel. The character of the ball recesses in the cup-shaped plateor receiver 9, are such that the balls will not be dislodged therefromand will constitute not only anti-friction bearings for the cap-plate12*, but will also serve when the rotation of the roller has been dulyretarded or slowed down, as a lock to hold the roller in fixed positionunder the action of the spiral spring 22.

The strip of fabric 2, having been secured to the roller, as described,it wlll be readily seen that when the shade is at" tached thereto bymeans of the hooks and eyelets or other similar means, that the shadewill travel upon the roller in an even manner, and that if strain shouldbe exerted upon the shade after it has reached the limit of its verticaltravel, the character of its connection with the roller is such that itwill not be torn away from the same, as is the case where the shade istacked to the roller; also, it will not become detached when the shadeis pulled all the way down.

lVith the tubular sections connected by the wooden cylinder 5 enteringtheir adj acent ends, it will be obvious that a roller embodying myinvention may be adjusted within reasonable limits to window frames ofvarying lengths, and that as the wooden cylinder enters each of thetubular sections a given distance, such cylinder constitutes a means initself, and independent of the ring-shaped ribs 3, for bracing thetubular sections against any tendency to collapse.

It will be seen that, as the major part of the roller is composed of thetwo tubular sections connected by a comparatively short cylinder ofwood, the weight of the entire roller is materially lessened over onecomposed mainly of wood.

Having thus described the construction, operation and advantages of myimproved roller, what I claim, as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is 1. A. shade roller such as described involving two tubularsections connected by an intermediate cylinder of wood, and providedwith a spring rod and coil spring, a cupshaped ball receiver located inthe outer end of one of the tubular sections and surrounding the springrod, and provided with a plurality of ball recesses, in combination witha cap plate surrounding the spring rod, provided with ball recessesconnected by circular grooves; antifriction and locking balls located inthe ball recesses of the ballreceiver, and yielding means for holdingthe cap plate in contact with the balls, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. A shade roller, composed of two tubular sections adjnstably connectedby an intermediate cylinder of Wood and provided with. a cent al springrod; a cup-shaped ball receiver having ball recesses therein located inthe outer end of one of the tubular sections; balls located within therecesses in the cup-shaped ball-receiver; a cap plate having ballrecesses connected by circular grooves and formed with a hollow axialshank, located within the cup-shaped ball receiver; a sleeve locatedupon the spring rod and secured against rotary movement thereon, andformed with an interior annu lar shoulder and with a. longitudinal kerfor slot in its inner extremity; a spring located between the end of theshank on the plate and the annular shoulder of the sleeve; and a stud orspline on the shank of the cap plate entering the kerf or slot in thesleeve, whereby the cap plate is held in yielding contact with theballs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A shade roller such as described, provided with a central spring rodand actuating spring, and provided at one end with a cup-shaped ballreceiver having a plurality of ball recesses; bills located in therecesses of the cup-shaped ball receiver, a. longitudinally movableplate provided with ball recesses connected by circular grooves; andyielding means for holding the plate in locked relation with the ballreceiver when the roller is at rest, substantially as hereinbefore setforth.

4. A shade roller such as described, provided with a ball receiver onone end thereof having ball recesses therein, a cap plate adapted to ayielding reciprocating movement, said ball receiver havinga grooveconnecting the ball recesses, and said cap plate having acircumferential tapered wall whereby frictional contact with the ballreceiver may be efiected, substantially as de scribed.

5. In a shade roller such as described, with cup shaped ball receiver atone end thereof and with ball recesses therein; a ball retaining capplate adapted for yielding reciprocating movement, said ball retainingcap plate formed with a groove connecting the ball recesses; and saidball retaining cap plate formed with a circumferential tapered wall,whereby frictional contact may be effected, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. MORE DECKER.

lVitnesses li n'ison FimNKL-nv S'rnnz. R-n'rn L. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing" the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

